Filling nozzle



March 4, 1969 R. M. LAMBETH 3,430,671

FILLING NOZZLE I Filed Jan. 10, 1966 inventor Ralph Mack lambeflz .B jfifl a fia-gm. & fl-Hror'neggs March 4, 1969 R. M. LAMBETH 3,430,671

FILLING NOZZLE Filed Jan. 10, 1966 Inverzto r Ralph Mack Lambelth B fimw/v & M

H-Hornegs United States Patent 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A filling nozzle of a packaging machine used for filling containers having bellows-like collapsible top panels wherein the filling nozzle has a rectangular discharge opening with rigid rod-like members extending downwardly and inwardly from each corner at the lower edge of the discharge opening and terminating at a point adjacent the longitudinal axis of the nozzle for co-acting with and straightening the bellows-like top panels to provide an unobstructed filling opening. Oppositely disposed camming members extending downwardly and inwardly from the lower edge of the rectangular opening of the nozzle can also be provided for engaging and facilitating straightening of the bellows-like top panels.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for filling a container with a particulate solid or a liquid material, and more particularly to a filling nozzle of a volumetric filling machine for packaging particulate solid or liquid materials.

In the use of volumetric package filling machines it is necessary to have the container to be filled presented thereto in condition and in position to receive a measured quantity of the material being packaged in order to prevent a shortage in the weight of the package and spillage of the material. A special filling problem is encountered where the container to be filled is a folded carton having a gable top formed by upwardly and inwardly inclined foldable top panels and bellows-like collapsible top panels arranged to be tucked inwardly between the foldable top panels. These gable top containers require relatively complex machinery to form and erect, and the machinery is too expensive for smaller users of the cartons. In order to enable small users to package products in gable top cartons, it is common practice to preform the cartons by erecting the blanks and coating the same with plastic or another coating material which renders the cartons moisture resistant. In preforming the cartons, the gable top is closed by tucking the collapsible top panels inwardly, bending the foldable top panels inwardly and temporarily sealing together the upper edges of the foldable top panels at spaced points to hold the top panels in closed position during subsequent shipment and storage prior to filling, thereby excluding foreign matter from the container.

When filling preformed containers of the foregoing type in accordance with the prior practice, it is customary to break the temporary seal and allow the foldable panels to spread apart. The inherent resiliency of the folded closure structure, however, generally limits the spacing of the upper edges of the folded top panels to about onehalf inch. A quantity of particulate solid material or liquid is then dispensed through a small diameter filling spout into the container, and the foldable top panels are thereafter refolded and firmly sealed together. The foregoing method of filling gable top containers through a small diameter spout is not entirely satisfactory. Thus, when it is desired to fill a carton of the foregoing type with a particulate solid material, or with a liquid or semi-liquid, the rate of filling through a small diameter filling spout of a size which can be conveniently inserted between the partially spread top panels is relatively slow and the filling rate is reduced substantially below the rated capacity of the filling machine.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for filling a preformed gable top container.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for filling more rapidly a preformed folded gable top container with a measured volume of material.

It is still another object of the present invention to -provide an improved filling nozzle of a volumetric package filling machine for more rapidly filling a preformed folded gable top container.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description and claims to follow when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a volumetric package filling machine equipped with :a filling nozzle of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the filling machine showing the filling nozzle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom end view of the filling nozzle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a modified form of filling nozzle of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a bottom end view of the filling nozzle of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of the filling nozzle of FIG. 4 with a gable top container in initial co-acting relationship therewith;

FIG. 6b is a perspective view of the filling nozzle of FIG. 4 with a gable top container in an intermediate coacting relationship therewith; and

FIG. 60 is a perspective view of the filling nozzle of FIG. 4 with a gable top container in co-acting relationship for filling.

A conventional volumetric package filling machine 10 which is adapted to deliver a measured volume of a particulate solid material, such as raw popcorn, to a filling spout is shown for purpose of illustration in FIG. 1 of the drawing and comprises a base 11 equipped with a column 12 supporting a hopper 13 delivering to measuring devices 14 rotating underneath the hopper 13 and over a fixed table 15 supported by a standard or shaft 16. The fixed table 15 is equipped with a discharge outlet 18 adapted to delivering the measured quantity of material, such as a particulate solid material, into a preformed folded gable top container of the above described type. t

The measuring devices 14 are driven by the shaft 16 which in turn is driven through suitable gears in the casing 19, including a modified Geneva movement, which allows one of the measuring devices 14 to pass under the hopper 13 while receiving the proper amount of material, and the opposite measuring device 14 to have sufiicient time to discharge its contents through the discharge opening 18 for delivery to a container. The volumetric package filling machine forms no part of the present invention and can be of any design which employs a discharge spout or nozzle for conveying a measured volume of solid particulate material to a container.

The novel filling spout or nozzle 30 of the present invention preferably is detachably mounted on a cylindrical lower end section of the generally tapered discharge outlet 18 of the package machine 10 and is comprised of a generally tubular section 31 which preferably has the opposite side wall sections 32, 32 and 33, 33 bent inwardly or flattened to form a generally rectangular opening 34. The size of the rectangular opening formed is preferably such that the lower end of the nozzle 30 will just fit into the open end of the fully opened container 20 (see FIG. 60). The contiguous side wall sections 32 and 33 forming the rectangular opening 34 at the lower end of the nozzle 30 are not necessarily of equal length, how ever, even where the container has a square opening at the upper end thereof, as will be explained hereinafter.

The pair of oppositely disposed side wall sections 32, 32' forming the rectangular opening 34 having a length substantially equal to that of the length of the side of the container walls having the inwardly folding bellows-like top panels 26, 26'. Also, the latter pair of oppositely disposed side walls 32, 32 having extending downwardly from the midpoint of each generally elongated finger shaped tab or cam members 37 which extend downwardyl and inwardly tofard the longitudinal axis of the nozzle 30. The other pair of opposite sidewall sections 33, 33' of the nozzle 30, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, are shorter in length than the sidewall 32, 32', even though the container 20 has a square cross section, and do not have a cam member 37 formed thereon.

Extending downwardly from the lower end of the tubular or sleeve-like section 31 from each of the corners of the rectangular opening 34 formed by the lower wall surfaces is a substantially rigid rod-like member 38 having a smooth outer surface, such as a heavy metal wire, which is inclined gradually inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the nozzle and which in the form shown in FIGS. 1-3 connects with each of the other rigid rodlike members 38 at a common point 40 along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle 30 spaced below the lower end of the tubular section 31 a distance preferably equal to about the length of the major dimension of the opening 34. Each of the rigid rod-like members 38 preferably has the upper end thereof disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the sidewalls of the tubular member to which it is attached. The converging rod-like members 38 together form an inverted pyramid shaped skeletal structure with the apex or point thereof extending downwardly and gradually expanding until the dimensions of the upper end or base of the inverted structure is substantially the same as the rectangular opening 34 and provide a camming surface for engaging the top panels of the said container 20.

It will be apparent that the proportions and taper of the skeletal structure formed by the rod-like members 38 together with the dimensions of the rectangular opening 34 formed by the lower wall sections of the nozzle 30 are such that when the partially opened container 20 is presented to the nozzle 30, the apex or point 40 formed by the joining of the lower ends of the rod members 38 can be received in the upper end of the container 20 in its partially opened position. And, as the container 20 is moved upwardly, either manually or mechanically, the spaced rod-like members will co-act with the corners formed by the top panels of the container to fully spread the inwardly folding bellows-like panels, thus permitting the container being moved freely upwardly over the end of the tubular section 31 with the filling nozzle 30 disposed between and substantially fully spreading the four top panels forming the closure of the container 20.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 4-5, the filling nozzle is formed of a tubular section 51 having side wall portions 52, 52' and 53, 53' which are flattened to form a square lower opening 54. Each of the opposite side wall portions 52, 52 and 53, 53 has a length about equal to the length of the top panel with which it co-acts and is provided with preferably an integral depending inwardly inclined finger-like cam member 55. The tubular section 51 also has depending from each of the corners of the opening 54 a substantially rigid rod-like member 56 which extends downwardly and inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the tubular section 51 joining with a small diameter metal ring 57 disposed concentrically about the longitudinal axis of the tubular section 51.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c of the drawing, the filling spout or nozzle 50 co-acts with the container 20 when the container 20 is disposed so that the end structure formed by the several rod-like members 56 enters the partially opened end of the container 20' and as the container 20 is moved upwardly the inclined rigid rod-like members 56 engage in the folds formed at the corners 27 of the container 20 and gradually move the inwardly inclined foldable top panels 28 outwardly so that the inwardly folded bellow-like top panels 26 are substantially straightened before the upper edges of the container opening contact the end of the tubular section 51; thereby providing an unobstructed opening for insertion of the lower end of the tubular section 51 into the end of the container 29 (see FIG. 60).

When the container 20 is presented at the nozzle 50 in such a condition or position that the opposite inwardly folding bellows-like panels 26 are not sufiiciently straightened by the rod-like members 56 to eliminate the in wardly projecting apexes 29 of the bellows-like panels 26, the inwardly turned cam members are adapted to engage the apexes of the bellows-like panels and to move the bellows-like panels 26 outwardly to permit the lower end of the tubular section 51 being inserted into the open end of the container 20.

With the form of the filling spout shown in FIGS. 1-3, it is necessary to present the container 20 to the filling spout or nozzle 30 with the sides of the nozzle 30 having the cam members 37 disposed opposite the inwardly extending bellows-like panels 26 of the carton and in position to engage the bellows-like panels 26. Thus, the type of filling nozzle illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 is adapted for use where the container to be filled does not have all the sides of equal length and/ or where the container is automatically presented to the filling nozzle 30 in a predetermined position with wall sections 32, 32' oriented with the cam members 37 disposed opposite the inwardly folded bellows-like panels 26 of the container.

Where it is desirable to present a container having sides of equal length to the filling nozzle without orienting the inwardly folded bellows-like panels 26 of the container with respect to the side walls 32, 32' of the filling nozzle, the form of filling nozzle shown in FIGS. 4-5 should be used, since the container 20 can be presented to the filling nozzle 50 with the inwardly extending bellows-like closure paneLs 26 facing either outwardly from the front of the filling machine or facing the right or left side of the filling machine from the front of the filling machine. The filling nozzle of FIGS. 4-5 is also adapted for use where ordinances specify high sanitary cleaning standards.

It will be understood that the filling nozzle of the present invention can be used for filling a container with a gable-type closure of any desired size by adjusting the size of the rectangular opening and the associated parts to effect movement of the top panels into a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the lateral Walls of the container being filled. It should also be evident that the filling nozzle disclosed herein can be used to advantage in filling a container of the foregoing type with a particulate solid, a semi-solid, or a liquid. Thus, providing a filling nozzle which has a discharge outlet of a size substantially equal to the size of the maximum opening of the container enables filling at a maximum rate and in some cases will avoid the necessity of using costly pressurized filling apparatus.

I claim:

1. A filling nozzle of a packaging machine for packaging a flowable material in a container having a rectangular filling opening with a pair of inwardly inclined folded top panels and a pair of oppositely disposed inwardly folded bellows-like collapsible top panels forming a closure for said rectangular filling opening which comprises; a tubular member adapted to be mounted on the discharge outlet of a packaging machine, said tubular member having the side walls adjacent the lower end thereof forming a generally rectangular discharge opening with two oppositely disposed said side walls having a length substantially equal to the length of said inwardly folded bellows-like top panels, and said tubular member having extending from the lower edge adjacent each corner of said discharge opening a substantially rigid rod-like member which is inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of said tubular member and which terminates at a point adjacent said longitudinal axis and spaced below said lower end of said tubular member to provide means for moving said top panels outwardly and thereby substantially straightening said inwardly folding bellows-like top panels; whereby a substantially unobstructed filling opening is provided to permit insertion of said lower end of said tubular member into said filling opening of said container.

2. A filling nozzle as in claim 1, wherein said oppositely disposed side walls having a length substantially equal to the length of said inwardly folded bellows-like top panels is provided at the midpoint thereof with a downwardly and inwardly extending camming member which is adapted to engage said inwardly folded bellows-like top panel and move said bellows-like top panel outwardly.

3. A nozzle as in claim 1, wherein said side walls forming said rectangular discharge opening have substantially the same length as the corresponding sides of said rectangular filling opening of said container.

4. A nozzle as in claim 1, wherein each of said side walls forming said rectangular discharge opening has substantially the same length as the length of a corresponding side of a square filling opening of a container to be filled by means of said nozzle, and each of said side walls forming said discharge opening having at the midpoint thereof a downwardly depending and inwardly inclined camming member which is adapted to engage a said bellows-like top panel disposed adjacent thereto and move said container which comprises:

5. A nozzle as in claim 1, wherein each of said rodlike members has the lower end thereof connected with a small diameter ring member disposed concentrically with said longitudinal axis of said tubular member.

6. A nozzle as in claim 1, wherein each of said rodlike members has the lower end thereof joined with each of the other said rod-like members at a point on said longitudinal axis.

7. A filling nozzle of a packaging machine for packaging a fiowable material in a container having a rectangular filling opening with the closure thereof having a pair of oppositely disposed inwardly folded bellows-like collapsible top panels at the upper end of the side walls of said container which comprises;

(a) a tubular member adapted to be mounted on a discharge outlet of a packaging machine and having side walls of said tubular member forming a discharge opening at the lower end thereof;

(b) said tubular member having extending downwardly therefrom four spaced rod-like members which are inclined inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of said tubular member and which terminate at a point adjacent said longitudinal axis below said lower end of said tubular member; and

(c) said rod-like members being circumferentially spaced adjacent said lower end of said discharge opening so one of said four rod-like members is adapted to engage one of the four corners of said rectangular opening respectively and move said top panels into substantially parallel relationship with said container side walls when said filling nozzle is in operative engagement with said filling opening; whereby said inwardly folded bellows-like top panels are substantially straightened to facilitate inserting said lower end of said tubular member into said filling opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,799,128 7/1957 Koons l41-392 HOUSTON S. BELL, JR., Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 53-381 

